Dragonfly plans to open Ocala restaurant

Award-winning sushi eatery may take up residence in new Market Street mall

BY RICK ALLENSTAR-BANNER

Published: Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 12:11 a.m.

Another Gainesville-based, upper-end restaurant appears to have its sights on Ocala.
The owner of the Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Co., perennially listed among Florida Trend's Top 500 restaurants in the state, confirms the restaurant is likely to be part of the Market Street at Heathbrook mall on Southwest State Road 200 by the end of the year.
"We're still in the final stages of the lease and nothing is set yet," said Hirofumi Leung, president of Imagin Asia Restaurant Management Group, which owns Dragonfly Sushi.
Still, he expects to make an official announcement within the next couple of weeks.
"Ocala is a great community and we want to be a part of it," Leung said.
Other Gainesville restaurants expected to open Ocala-area operations this year are Mark's U.S. Prime, an upper-end steakhouse going in on the Downtown Square where Reno's and Shannon Roth Collection were until December; and Yamato Japanese Steakhouse, also on SR 200 west of the Market Street property.
Leung promises the new facility will have a distinctive Ocala flair. "It'll be a uniquely different restaurant," he said. "It'll be Ocala, not a Gainesville restaurant in Ocala."
Whether the restaurant will carry the Dragonfly name hasn't been decided, he said. However, the new eatery will include an outdoor Zen garden. "Florida has such beautiful weather," Leung said.
Another bit of good news: Sushi fans in Marion County won't have to wait for the doors to open to sample the Dragonfly fare.
The restaurant will be participating this year in the 20th Taste of Ocala on April 13 at Central Florida Community College.
Often, restaurants planning a move to Ocala preview themselves at the Taste, a scholarship fundraiser for the community college.
"We'll be there whether we come to Ocala or not," Leung said. "It's a good thing to do."Rick Allen may be reached at rick.allen@starbanner.com or 867-4122.

Another Gainesville-based, upper-end restaurant appears to have its sights on Ocala.<BR>
The owner of the Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Co., perennially listed among Florida Trend's Top 500 restaurants in the state, confirms the restaurant is likely to be part of the Market Street at Heathbrook mall on Southwest State Road 200 by the end of the year.<BR>
"We're still in the final stages of the lease and nothing is set yet," said Hirofumi Leung, president of Imagin Asia Restaurant Management Group, which owns Dragonfly Sushi.<BR>
Still, he expects to make an official announcement within the next couple of weeks.<BR>
"Ocala is a great community and we want to be a part of it," Leung said.<BR>
Other Gainesville restaurants expected to open Ocala-area operations this year are Mark's U.S. Prime, an upper-end steakhouse going in on the Downtown Square where Reno's and Shannon Roth Collection were until December; and Yamato Japanese Steakhouse, also on SR 200 west of the Market Street property.<BR>
Leung promises the new facility will have a distinctive Ocala flair. "It'll be a uniquely different restaurant," he said. "It'll be Ocala, not a Gainesville restaurant in Ocala."<BR>
Whether the restaurant will carry the Dragonfly name hasn't been decided, he said. However, the new eatery will include an outdoor Zen garden. "Florida has such beautiful weather," Leung said.<BR>
Another bit of good news: Sushi fans in Marion County won't have to wait for the doors to open to sample the Dragonfly fare.<BR>
The restaurant will be participating this year in the 20th Taste of Ocala on April 13 at Central Florida Community College.<BR>
Often, restaurants planning a move to Ocala preview themselves at the Taste, a scholarship fundraiser for the community college.<BR>
"We'll be there whether we come to Ocala or not," Leung said. "It's a good thing to do."<BR>
<i>Rick Allen may be reached at rick.allen@starbanner.com or 867-4122.</i>